With the release of Boys and Girls in America, Craig Finn, talk-singing front man of The Hold Steady, unveils the latest chapter in his ongoing story of drugs and redemption. This release, the band’s first for Vagrant records, finds the New York rockers picking up right where they left off with 2005’s Separation Sunday, both musically and lyrically.
The likeability of Pinback does not seem to come to one immediately; but after enough listens, it is nearly unavoidable. The same can be said of their newest release, Autumn of the Seraphs.
by Jonathan Hust and Clifton Smith
This exchange took place between our contributor Jonathan Hust and co-editor Clifton Smith. It concerns Jonathan’s addition of a “Current Must-Hear Shortlist” to his Review of Autumn of the Seraphs, also featured in this issue. The list includes five additional albums and a numeric rating; it prompted the following editorial debate. Read the rest of this entry »
by Jonathan Hust and Clifton Smith
This is the second part of an ongoing correspondence.
Jonathan,
Why should we bother with all of this song scrutiny? What possible good could all of this extra thinking amount to? Isn’t it enough to like whatever we like as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody?
Read the rest of this entry »
by Jonathan Hust and Clifton Smith
This correspondence was conceived to be an ongoing dialogue. The next issue of [sic] will contain the next series of letters.
Jonathan,
Here is my idea: we will write about lyrics! Great, right? Well, there’s more. Read the rest of this entry »